Lecavalier's return to Tampa creates buzz

Philadelphia Flyers center Vincent Lecavalier (40) strips the puck from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Andrej Sustr (62), of the Czech Republic, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. Lecavalier played for the Lightning for 14 season. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

TAMPA, Fla. — Vinny Lecavalier’s return and a planned pre-game ceremony honoring him created a buzz early Wednesday at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. While the Lightning were trying to focus on preparing for a game against one of their favorite rivals, the Flyers, it was clear that Lecavalier’s return was also impacting their thoughts.

“He’s a good guy and a good teammate,” Tampa Bay center Nate Thompson said. “The Flyers are lucky to have him.”

Veteran Marty St. Louis, who was honored before a game Monday night at the Forum for having played his 1,000th NHL game while the Lightning were on the road last week, said he hadn’t had the chance to meet as yet with his old friend Vinny. But St. Louis said it had been a while since he learned to deal with Lecavalier’s huge void.

“For me it was training camp when we pulled in, you know?” St. Louis said. “I’m so used to going to the testing (with him) and everything, making fun of each other’s results.”

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The Lightning, second in the Eastern Conference entering play Wednesday, are off to a solid start to the season. They stumbled a bit after Steven Stamkos went out with a broken leg, but otherwise have been solid and speedy. But there’s no question they miss their former franchise icon.

“Ever since he came into the league you wouldn’t think of the Tampa Bay Lightning without mentioning Vinny Lecavalier,” said Lightning defenseman and former Flyer Matt Carle. “I’m sure it’ll be an exciting night for him. I can’t imagine playing in one place for 14 or 15 years and then going back. I’d be very emotional. But it would be pretty special.”

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Flyers coach Craig Berube was giving young forward Michael Raffl an overdue start against the Lightning. While Raffl has been a healthy scratch of late, Berube says he still considers him to be a player with a big role on the team.

“Raffl is the type of player you can move up and down the lineup,” Berube said. “I believe that. He played with (Claude) Giroux for a while, and Giroux liked playing wth him. You can play him on a checking line, you can play him on a fourth line ... Whatever line he’s on he helps out the line.”

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NOTES: Lightning goalie Ben Bishop, called by Carle “our MVP, for sure,” appeared to take a shot off his hand at practice Wednesday morning and did a dash into the Lightning locker room afterward. He was reported to be “OK,” but wasn’t scheduled to start in net against the Flyers, anyway. ... Carle on missing Stamkos, who suffered a broken right tibia Nov. 11 in Boston, and Wednesday was walking around without crutches and without a cast but with a big smile: “We just tried to focus on doing the same things but just doing them better. It’s one of those things where you’re not going to replace a guy like that with one person. But we’ve had a lot of young guys in the minors who have come up and played (well) for us.”